Minority Male Higher Education

Topic: How to Increase Minority Male College Enrollments and Graduation Rates

Minority Male Higher Education

Problem:

Annually less than 30% of minority Male (African, Hispanic, and Native American) High School graduates, attend or are enrolled in college, and for those that do attend, only 15% receive a 4-year university degree.

National Average College Enrollment for Males: 38%
White American: 39%
African-American: 34%
Asian American: 59%*
Hispanic American: 33%
Native American: 19%*

*The female to male college enrollment rate is 4% higher for females, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

National Average of Male 4-Year College Degrees:: 33%
White American: 39%
African-American: 20%
Asian American: 59%
Hispanic American: 16%
Native American: 8%

Causes:

Lack of motivation towards higher education (Poor high school grades)

Lack of financial family support (Funding support from home to attend college)

Non-career awareness (Non -exposure to career options)

How the 100% Graduation Rate Program Address the Problem:

  1. We developed a partnership with our local college’s Equal Opportunity Program.
  2. We conducted annual college workshops with the students and our local colleges, both at the high schools and colleges.
  3. We created a quarterly progress chart for students, starting after the completion of 9th grade.
  4. We held bi-monthly college readiness in school training session for our juniors.
  5. We sponsored three in-state 4-year college, group field trips for our male seniors.
  6. We bought in former high school graduates and community guest speakers for 6 in school sessions for our seniors.

100% Graduation Rate Program Results:

Camden, New Jersey – **Program Participants Group B (105) compared to Program Sample Group A (105)

The Male Program participants had a 41% higher College Enrollment Rate. Compared to the City’s sample group of males – 64% (67 out of 105) to 23% (24 out of 105).

The Male Program participants also had a 14% higher College Graduation Rate. Compared to the City’s sample group of males – 34% (23 out of 67) to 21% (5 out of 24).

**Selection Process:
Each year, the City’s two largest high schools – Camden High and Woodrow Wilson – Guidance Departments selected 15 incoming high school freshmen for the program. These students were classified as at-risk, based on having grades below C in Math and/or Reading, or had a poor student behavior problem.

The students were then randomly assigned to a Program Group- A (Non-treatment) or Group B (Program Treatment) – based on their seating during the program’s orientation.

Our Recommendations:

Urban community School Districts need to develop official partnerships with local 2-year and 4-year colleges. These partnerships should include a memorandum of understanding, that:

  • expose local high schools 9th, 10th and 11th grader students to bi-annual workshops at the colleges;
  • college admission department staff should conduct admission requirements workshop sessions with high school extracurricular programs at the high schools
  • colleges admission departments should offer financial aid training sessions for 12th graders and their parents at the beginning of the school year.